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    Home » Seitan

    Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao

    Published: May 25, 2021 · Modified: Jul 12, 2022 by Louise-Claire Cayzer · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 16 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Image showing hand picking up bao buns filled with vegan hoisin chicken. Image for pinterest.
    Image showing hand picking up bao buns filled with vegan hoisin chicken. Image for pinterest.
    Image showing hand picking up bao buns filled with vegan hoisin chicken. Image for pinterest.v
    Image showing hand picking up bao buns filled with vegan hoisin chicken. Image for pinterest.

    There is something utterly compelling about Bao. These Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao are a total favourite mid-week dinner at our place! Let me tell you why!

    Bao are fluffy little steamed buns that you fill with delicious savoury goodies. We cheat a little and buy our Bao ready to steam. You can find them in Asian supermarkets, or even in our local larger supermarket. We love to make up a few yummy filling options, then help ourselves to the fillings as we like, piling the fluffy vegan bao up with seitan, pickles, herbs and layering with spicy mayo!

    Vegan hoisin bao being picked up to eat. this recipe
    Jump to:
    • 🍽Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳How to
    • ❓FAQ
    • 🥗Serving
    • 🍽️Other recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍽Ingredients

    • Bao Buns Fluffy buns that are steamed before filling. You can make your own from scratch, but we buy them from our Asian or local large supermarket. You can even buy them premade online.
    • Seitan Chicken Here we have used our own seitan chicken recipe (full recipe here) but we often use a vegan chicken from the supermarket too.
    • Hoisin Sauce Most Hoisin sauce is vegan (yay- but check the label). Our absolute fave has got to be The Garlic Farm hoisin sauce because of the lovely garlicky flavour it brings to the dish, but use any hoisin that you happen to love.
    • Quick Pickles (or kimchi!) I like to make a jar of pickled radishes and red onions to keep in the fridge and put on everthing (recipe is coming SOON for this!) Or use your favourite pickled onions or some kimchi (we love this one).
    • Fresh Herbs I love to add fresh coriander and mint to my bao. If you can find Vietnamese basil, then that would also be amazing. Or even a sprinkle of chives or fresh chopped spring onions tastes great.
    • Spicy Sriracha Mayo Optional but delicious. Make your own by mixing your favourite hot sauce in with some mayo. Or try one of the many vegan Sriracha Mayos that are around. I like the Flying Goose brand.
    Close up of the vegan bao buns stuffed with hoisin seitan chick'n.

    👩‍🍳How to

    I think one of the reasons I love making these Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao for dinner so much is that it's super easy to make them!

    1)Prep all the ingredients and have them ready to assemble. I like to lay everything out so that everyone can help themselves! Little bowls full of chopped herbs. Pickles out and of course the mayo or sauces you want to add.

    2) Now pan-fry the vegan seitan chicken in a little oil. Let it get a little crispy at the edges, then simply pour over 2-3 tablespoons (aka a big old glug) of hoisin sauce. Stir around to warm through and it's ready to go into the buns.

    3) While you are pan-frying the seitan chicken, steam the buns in a bamboo steamer - or just use your vegetable steamer for about 3-4 minutes.

    4) To fill the bao, gently open them out, then stuff with the vegan hoisin chicken, herbs, pickles and sauce!

    Yummy plate of bao buns stuffed with vegan seitan chicken.

    ❓FAQ

    How long do you steam the bao buns for?

    3-4 minutes until puffed up and fluffy

    Can you make these ahead of time?

    The bao are best served hot and just made. I have reheated pre-stuffed bao in a steamer, and it worked out ok as leftovers. I wouldn't serve them cold however, I don't think they would be super tasty.

    What vegan chicken are you using in this recipe?

    I used this seitan chicken recipe Basic Vegan Seitan Chicken (no wash method) I make it up in huge batches and freeze in 2 person portions. But you can use any commercial vegan 'chicken'.

    🥗Serving

    Here are some great ideas to serve alongside (or inside!) your Bao!

    • Vegan Disco Slaw
    • Creamy & Tangy Vegan Celeriac Remoulade
    • Perfect Vegan Garlic Greens Side Dish

    🍽️Other recipes

    • Basic Vegan Seitan Chicken (no wash method)
    • Vegan Smokey Seitan and Black Bean Sausages
    • Vegan Christmas Tempeh 'Sausage' Stuffing Balls

    If you love this recipe, please share this post with your friends on Pinterest or Facebook, or tag me on Insta! Don't forget to also please comment and star ⭐this recipe too!

    Love & Vegan Yummies,

    Louise xx (P.S. Follow me on Insta and Tik Tok!)

    📖 Recipe

    Vegan Hoisin Chicken Bao buns on a plate ready to eat.

    Easy Vegan Hoisin Seitan Ch'kn Bao

    Louise-Claire Cayzer
    Easy to make bao bun sandwiches are stuffed with Hoisin Seitan 'chkn' along with lots of herbs and pickles!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 9 minutes mins
    Total Time 19 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine asian, Chinese, Vegan
    Servings 2
    Calories 795 kcal

    Equipment

    • Bamboo or vegetable steamer
    • Frying Pan

    Ingredients Note:

    For accuracy, I measure all ingredients in metric as standard, then convert and test the recipe for American cup measurements etc.

    (Heads up Aussie and UK readers- your measurements in cups are sometimes different, so please use metric or check you have the correct cup and spoon type!!)

    Ingredients

    • 6 Bao Buns (allow 2-3 bao per person)
    • 170 g Seitan Chicken
    • 3 tablespoon hoisin sauce
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha mayo
    • ½ tablespoon neutral oil (for pan frying the seitan)
    • 3 tablespoon pickled onions (or kimchi)
    • 3 tablespoon fresh herbs (such as coriander and mint)

    Instructions

    • Prepare your steamer to steam the bao. Put in some boiling water. Put the bao into the steamer basket and put the lid on.
    • Shred the seitan chicken (if it isn't already in small pieces)
    • Gently pan fry the seitan chk'n until just crispy on the outside. Add the hoisin sauce.
    • Fry for a minute or so until all combined and warmed through.
    • Remove the bao from the steamer. (carefully!)
    • To serve each bao: Split the bun, then add the Hoisin Seitan Chicken, herbs, pickles and spicy mayo to taste.
    Keyword bao, bao buns, seitan, seitan chicken, vegan bao

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Donna Francis says

      March 17, 2023 at 10:12 pm

      5 stars
      Really great!

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        March 20, 2023 at 9:38 am

        I'm so happy you liked this recipe! x

        Reply
    2. rob c says

      January 18, 2022 at 11:10 am

      5 stars
      We tried this with our vegan teenager, and all loved them. Easy and quick to make, and very tasty. We'll do them again!

      Reply
      • Vanessa Sturman says

        January 18, 2022 at 12:41 pm

        Oh that's wonderful to hear! Thank you x

        Reply
    3. Katie Youngs says

      June 02, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      Wow this was packed with flavor! I definitely recommend that you DO NOT skip the spicy mayo! It was soooo delicious.

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        June 03, 2021 at 10:35 am

        The spicy mayo is a total must I agree!

        Reply
    4. Erica says

      June 02, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      Love how colorful these are! I even found a gluten free bun recipe to try these with, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        June 03, 2021 at 10:35 am

        Oh nice! I must try making the buns soon too.

        Reply
    5. Toni says

      June 02, 2021 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      I loved how easy and tasty this meal is! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        June 03, 2021 at 10:34 am

        We love them too! Glad you liked the recipe 🙂

        Reply
    6. Katherine says

      June 02, 2021 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      There are so many great flavours in these bao buns!

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        June 02, 2021 at 2:01 pm

        They're so tasty and fun!

        Reply
    7. Mahy says

      June 02, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      Now these are EXACTLY what I've been looking for to make this weekend. Spoiler: I am having a small party. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        June 02, 2021 at 2:01 pm

        Oh -perfect for a party!

        Reply
    8. Marie-Charlotte Chatelain says

      June 02, 2021 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      Bao buns are my favorite street food and this vegan version sounds like a fantastic fingerfood for parties

      Reply
      • Louise-Claire Cayzer says

        June 02, 2021 at 2:01 pm

        They're so yummy and perfect finger food!

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Louise-Claire! I believe vegan and plant-based food should be easy to make, never scary and above all, absolutely delicious. Also, it's for everyone, not just for vegans!

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    I'm a photographer, recipe developer and gardener. You'll find me in the kitchen, in the studio or wandering the garden, picking delicious veggies to make recipes for you! So why not stay a while, check out some of my recipes and try one or two for yourself...Find out more on my About Me page.

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